His Catholic Majesty?

Standing next to Pope Benedict XVI is Franz Herzog von Bayern. He is the current Duke of Baveria and pretender to the throne of England as a direct descendant of the Stuart line. As a child he spent much of the war in concentration camps including Dachau because of his family's opposition to the Nazis. He is an active Roman Catholic and the current Grand Master of the Royal Order of Saint George for the Defense of the Immaculate Conception. This is the man who, but for the Act of Settlement, would be king of England and Scotland. Just thought you ought to know. 

Act repeal could make Franz Herzog von Bayern new King of England and Scotland

SSPX-Rome: The Discussions continue....

Andrea Tornielli, from Vatican Insider has a detailed review of today's happenings in Rome. Firstly, the communique should not be regarded as a step-back, but, rather as a reflection of realities: the position of Bp. Fellay, the position/s of the three other SSPX bishops (especially considering their letter to the Superior General), as well as the various positions held within the CDF. For example, Bishop Muller, is known to have a negative opinion of the Society...

Various cardinals...have expressed objections and data of the ballots with reservation. The outcome of this articulated argument will be taken probably already the day after tomorrow to Benedict XVI from Cardinal William Levada, Prefect of the former Holy Office. The opinion of the “Feria quarter” does not bind the Pope, being able to examine the opinions expressed from everyone of the members, and who can decide in full autonomy.


Update: Catholic News Service carries a review of today's proceedings.
               Radio Vatican - in French. 

SSPX-Rome Update: CDF issues Communique on SSPX reconciliation

From the Vatican Information Service: 

Vatican City, 16 May 2012 (VIS) - Early this afternoon, the Holy See Press Office issued the following communique regarding the Society of St. Pius X:

"As reported by news agencies, today, 16 May 2012, an Ordinary Session of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith met to discuss the question of the Society of St. Pius X.

In particular, the text of the response of Bishop Bernard Fellay, received on 17 April, 2012, was examined and some observations, which will be considered in further discussions between the Holy See and the Society of St. Pius X, were formulated.

Regarding the positions taken by the other three bishops of the Society of St. Pius X, their situations will have to be dealt with separately and singularly".

-------

Commentary: This seems that SSPX-Rome negotiations are now moving in two directions: a reconciliation with the SSPX under Bp. Fellay, and a second approach on how to deal with the recalcitrant bishops with the objective of avoiding a schism.

SSPX Update: Bishop Fellay gives an Interview with Catholic News Service

The USSB's Catholic News Service has just released a video interview with Bishop Fellay, Superior of the Society of St. Pius X.  The video may be watched here.

Bishop Fellay, SSPX Superior

William Oddie on Rome-SSPX talks

The Catholic Herald's William Oddie,  carries an excellent editorial on the current SSPX-Rome talks, as well as the potential for real schism within the SSPX. Highly recommended reading. Oddie is of the opinion that a schism is likely as the recently leaked exchange of letters shows Fellay moving solidly towards Rome, and the other three into.... well, schism and heresy. To appreciate Bp. Tissier de Mallarias I include the quote for reference:

What remains of the magisterium in the Church? It is a matter of faith that Our Lord endowed His Church with a living and perpetual Magisterium, that is to say a papal and episcopal voice which, in every era and at the present time, is the echo of divine revelation and the relay of tradition. Well, this magisterium, at least as regards the truths denied by the conciliar hierarchy, lies in Mgr Lefebvre in whom it can be found in a certain manner. He is the veritable echo of tradition, the faithful witness, the good shepherd whom simple sheep have been able to identify from the wolves in sheep’s clothing. Yes, the Church still has a living and perpetual magisterium and Mgr Lefebvre is its saviour. The indefectibility of the Church can be seen in the inflexibility of the Archbishop.”Fideliter, 1989 (No. 72, p10)

Where is the Church, my dears? Recognize the tree by its fruits. Where the fruits are, there the Church is. I do not mean that the Church is reduced to the Fraternity, but that her heart is in the Fraternity. The true Faith, the true teaching, the non-bastard sacraments: all this is in the Fraternity. Everywhere else, there is a mixture full of compromises because of liberalism and weakness of mind. The parallel Church is the Vatican II-Newchurch: her spirit, her new-religion or no-religion.

Angelus online answers to questions on 20th anniversary of episcopal consecration


Note: With the Archbishop dead, who is the "saviour" of the Magisterium now? The Church 
indefectible due to one, retired titular bishop? Where does this leave the Pope, the infallible declarations on the visibility and indefectibility of the Church? So, de Mallarias will decide which truths are "denied" by the "conciliar" hierarchy? The true faith is where the Pope is not?  A "parallel church" etc.? all this stinks of schism ...Change "Lefebvre" to Luther" and you see where this man is going!...

Una Voce Toronto: Solemn High Mass for the Feast of the Ascension

Witness wishes to call all Toronto area Catholics attention to the Una Voce Toronto sponsored Solemn High Mass according to the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite (Roman Missal 1962 of Bl. John XXIII). The Mass will be on Thursday, May 17, 2012 at 7:30 P.M. at St. Lawrence the Martyr Catholic Church in Scarborough. Please, if you can, attend this Mass. Please encourage others who may be interested to attend and experience the Mass of so many saints. 


Further information may be obtained from Vox Cantoris. 

 Courtesy, Una Voce Toronto 

Bishop Fellay visited the CDF: Reconciliation is moving forward

Andrea Tornielli, of La Stampa reports that Bishop Fellay, Superior of the Society of St. Pius X, has recently been in Rome prior to - the much anticipated and hoped for - formal announcement of canonical steps to be taken for full union. 

"Vatican Insider has learnt that during the meeting, attendees discussed some of the modifications Fellay had proposed for the doctrinal preamble. The outcome seems to have been positive. In the morning of Wednesday 16 May, the Feria Quarta meeting will be held in the Palace of the Holy Office". 


The Holy Father will receive in audience curial officials from the Congregation of the Faith, with their recommendations following a review of the modified "Doctrinal Preamble" sent earlier by Bishop Fellay. Tornielli reports that the CDF has reviewed this modified document in a positive manner and will recommend to the Supreme Pontiff accordingly, who will make a final decision within days. 

Blogging Courtesy and Copyright

In a way, this is a waste of blog space. However, the integrity of the Witness blog must be maintained. 

We are not in any way opposed to other blogs using our material; but we are opposed to having entire posts copy and pasted - not only is discourteous and disrespectful of the efforts put into writing an original post, it is also illegal. 

You may quote us, link to us, but you may not plagiarize us, and even try to claim our original work as copyrighted to yourself.

An unfortunate example is at catholicanada.com that has copied and pasted entire articles from our blog without receiving permission to do same, and further claiming that same is copyrighted to this entity. We notice that this website is replete with copyright violations. Please stop!